Lindsey Young

EAGAN, Minn. - Minnesota has agreed to terms with free agent defensive lineman Dean Lowry, the team announced Friday.

It will be a short move for Lowry, who has spent his first seven NFL seasons with the division-rival Packers.

Last season, Lowry started 12 of 15 games for Green Bay and totaled 43 tackles, one-half sack, five quarterback hits and a pass defensed. He recorded a career-high 5.0 sacks during the 2021 season.

Here are five things to know about the Vikings new lineman:

1. Hidden gem

Lowry started his NFL career in 2016 after being drafted in the fourth round (137th overall) by the Packers.

Dane Brugler of CBS Sports commented that Lowry was "heavy-handed" and used his momentum and size to compete against blockers. Though he initially was projected to be a backup in the league, Lowry has started 80 of his 111 career games.

2. Former Wildcat

Lowry attended Northwestern University, where he was named as a senior to the 2015 All-Big Ten Second Team.

He ranked second on the team with 13.5 tackles for loss that season and set a Wildcats single-game record with six tackles for loss in a win over Nebraska.

Lowry overlapped at Northwestern with former Vikings DL Ifeadi Odenigbo.

3. High school standout

Lowry attended Boyland Central Catholic High School (Rockford, Illinois), where he exceled especially in football but also played baseball and basketball for a season.

As a senior, he totaled 65 tackles, including 21 for loss, and 10 sacks. He was named to the All-State team by the Chicago Tribune and Champaign-News Gazette.

Lowry shares an alma mater with a number of notable alumni, including Boy Meets World actor Jonathan Turner and Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel in Disney's The Little Mermaid.

4. Throwback

Lowry recently posted a fun throwback on his Instagram page: a photo of him and his sister Ava as children outside the Packers practice facility. He noted the uniqueness of stopping off on a family vacation to watch Packers training camp as a youngster and later being drafted by that same team.

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5. World traveler

Lowry and his fiancee Maddie traveled to France following the 2022 season.

He and Maddie, a Notre Dame volleyball alum, got engaged last June.